"Queen's Blade Re:Build," inspired by a gladiatorial tournament of beautiful warriors, proved surprisingly authentic as a card battle game [TGS2025]
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/949/G094919/20250928055/
Writer: Takahashi Yusuke | 2025/09/28 12:04 (UTC)
Queen’s Blade
A gladiatorial tournament held in the name of God to select the strongest and most beautiful queen
Who will claim that glorious throne?
Only battle can reveal the truth.
Do you remember “Queen’s Blade”? The sexy fantasy battle anime or the figurines? Well, those might be more mainstream—but what I’d like to remind you of is the “fighting-style visual book” originally released by Hobby Japan.
Its roots trace back to the 1980s, when “LOST WORLDS,” a gamebook with a similar concept, was published overseas by companies like Wizards of the Coast. Originally themed around crusader-style older knights and powerful goblins clashing in battle, during localization for Japan, the artwork was changed—and surprisingly, the original rights holder agreed (!).
Each book corresponds to one character; players each hold one character book as their own. They choose actions, determine outcomes, and follow instructions by turning to designated pages to progress through battles. The system could express highly detailed scenarios—such as “dodging an opponent’s low attack with a jump, then striking back with a downward blow”—making it quite intricate.
When “Queen’s Blade” first launched, I was genuinely amazed at how exceptional it was in every sense. Now, this year marks its 20th anniversary. At the Hobby Japan booth and also at Creek & River’s booth during TGS 2025, a deck-building roguelike game titled “Queen’s Blade Re:Build” (available on PC) was showcased.
Surprisingly, the game’s design is remarkably meticulous. Player character parts are divided into upper, middle, and lower sections; placing character cards on each forms a “defense line.” Each turn has a time limit, so players must quickly assess the situation and act decisively.
When attack and defense values from character cards placed in the same section are compared, any card with insufficient defense is removed. Any damage that exceeds what the character card can absorb goes to armor or the body itself—a system familiar to anyone who’s played trading card games.
When character cards fail to block an enemy’s attack, accumulated damage causes the armor to break—leading inevitably to that long-awaited (or ideally avoided) state of broken armor. Armor is also split into upper, middle, and lower sections, each with distinct graphics displayed accordingly.
Opinions may vary, but the tone feels more flirtatious gag than outright erotic. Image Gallery No.007 thumbnail / “Queen’s Blade Re:Build,” inspired by a beauty warrior arena, proved far more substantial than expected as a card battle game [TGS2025] Image Gallery No.008 thumbnail / “Queen’s Blade Re:Build,” inspired by a beauty warrior arena, proved far more substantial than expected as a card battle game [TGS2025]
However, when armor is destroyed, it accumulates points needed to unleash special moves and allows drawing new cards—potentially turning the tide of battle. Naturally, destroying enemy armor carries risk too; recklessly breaking it can lead to painful consequences (I’ve seen it happen firsthand).
This is dangerous! Image Gallery No.010 thumbnail / “Queen’s Blade Re:Build,” inspired by a beauty warrior arena, proved far more substantial than expected as a card battle game [TGS2025] Image Gallery No.011 thumbnail / “Queen’s Blade Re:Build,” inspired by a beauty warrior arena, proved far more substantial than expected as a card battle game [TGS2025]
Each character card features various effects, such as “able to attack adjacent sections” or “can pierce through opponent’s cards,” offering enjoyable deck-building opportunities based on synergies.
Visually, renowned creators from the original era—including Eiwa-san, F.S.-san, and Kanta-kun—have redone their illustrations specifically for this project. Additionally, Wataru Watanabe, who recently worked on new characters for “Super Robot Wars Y,” is set to join as a new contributor.
Watanabe’s rough sketches were displayed Image Gallery No.016 thumbnail / “Queen’s Blade Re:Build,” inspired by a beauty warrior arena, proved far more substantial than expected as a card battle game [TGS2025]
On the other hand, character cards feature nostalgic artwork originally used in the visual books. While they don’t feel overly outdated to me personally, younger players might still perceive them as somewhat retro.
After actually playing, I was struck by how solid and well-crafted the game feels—no surprise, as the card game component is developed by Hobby Japan’s dedicated card game division. The official release is scheduled for 2026. While the demo features only the battle segment, we’re naturally curious about the final product—and ultimately, that can only be discovered through firsthand experience.